Folding chair



1951 J. A. CHRISTENSEN 2,541,036

FOLDING CHAIR Filed April 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 15 I. l0 E 32 v 38 INVENTOR. 52 l7 JOHNAGHRISTENSEN FIG; 3 25 ATTORNEY 1951 J. A. CHRISTENSEN 2,541,036

FOLDING CHAIR Filed April 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2o Fl 5 INVENTOR.

. 3 JOHNABHRISTENSEIN ATTORNEY 1951 J. A. CHRISTENSEN 2,541,035

FOLDING CHAIR Filed April 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

JOHNACHRISTENSEN BY ai M ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1951 lT ED STATES PATEN OF 2,541,036

FOLDING GHAIR John A. .Christensen, Worcester, Mass ,assigner "to Bridge Tables & Novelties, Ina, Lowell, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application April ,18, 1946,;Seriai-Ne. 653,,(17-7 5 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to folding chairs, and more particularly .to ,chairs of the type in which the front and rear legs and the back memher are simultaneously ,foldable with respect to the seat-member into collapsedenclosed-and ,exi findfid o ope posi ns. s a n rm t c lapsing the chair into verysmall compass when not in use.

,An object 0f the invention is to improve upon folding chairs of the above-described character, with the end ,in view of simpliiying their construction, so as to reducethe number of partsemployed and the labor :of assembl and consecuently reducing theircost of manufacture, but without detracting in the slightest from the sturd iness and ruggedness of thechairwhen extendedor its compactness when collapsed.

Other and ,fprther objects will .be explained hereinafter, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will now be inore fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevationof a chair embodying the inventioninpreferred form, shown in fully open or extended position; Fig. 2 is a similarview, showing the chair partly collapsed; Fig. 3 is still another similar view, showing the chairfully folded or collapsed; Fig. 4 is ahoricontal section taken upon the line.4.-,4 of Fig. 5, looking downwardin the directionof the arrows, with parts broken away for clearness; Fig. 5 is an elevation correspondingtoFig. l, but upon a larger scale, and partly in section upon the line -5-5 of Fig. (l, looking in the direction ,of the arrows; Figs. 6 and 7 ;.are similarly enlarged ,views, with parts .broken away, respectively corresponding similarly to Figs. Zand 3 Fig.8 is a verticalsection taken upon the line 8-,8 of Fig. {1, looking in the. direction of the arrows, showing the latching mechanism occupying the latched position; ,Fig. 9 ,is a ,vertical section similar to Fig. 8, ,but with .the latching mechanism unlatched; Figs. 10 and 11 are vertical sections taken, respectively, upon the lines lf. .i;ll and J |--l| of Figs. 8 and1.9, lookingin the direction of the arrows andFig. .12 isafragmentary view corresponding to ,Fig. l, but withlsome of the parts omitted for .clearness.

Thefoldingchair of the present,invention is of the type in which a back member I foldsforward into-collapsing relation ,to .the upper face of. a seat member 4, and in which, simultaneously therewith, two rear [legs 2 and two .front legs 3 ,f old respectively forward ,and rearward toward each other into. collapsing; relationto the under fac o -th ;sea .-mem c w4- Th bac m m e nay be constituted ;of the customary .tW WQOG side bars rigid y connected tog t t fol {a a .unit by wood cross bars, .not shown. The two wood rear legs 2 may be similarly connected together igid b th w stqma j wo d c os rs. not shown so .as s mi arl t m r a .a unit, and the same for the wood front legs illustrated mo parti ularly in Fl es,- 14 a d. the seat member 4 may be constitutedof afouridedpn n fram havine w dree b rp cl 5, .wood side bars or cleats ,El and a wood front .har or cleat .13. fllhe ;.bars 1,! and I3 nay be s cured to eth i an d s red ma iner. as by means .Q s e. nai s rews, an t ike- Th front ,bar J3 ,is shown in Fig. A wider than the rear bar J. nsjthe legs ,are positioned ,at the corners of the foursided frameof the seat 4 thisen le th fron l s tabs srac ia s apart than the, rear legs, .2 in orderjto .permit the rear ,legs ,2 ,to fold ,eompactly between the .frent legs {3. ,Ihe side ,b ars ill and the front bar .13 ar a b t d. as s ow a ,9, t p vid an L- shaped recess for the .supportof aseating portion ,5.

A .wood cross-bar support-56 is secured to the il- 12 lba J .i r ll fid 11 4 9 7 13 :-b means .ef nails ,or screws. The .bar ,1 and the cross barjifi ;-thus.constitute, in effect, a unitary support member disposedat the .rear of the seat memb o pivotanys pp tin ih gba mem; her .I and the ,rear legs ,2. According to the preferred embodimentmf ,the invention thatis illustrated and described herein, this pivoting is effected through (the ,medium M of two metal plates 42 respectively secured to the ends of the cross bar 56 inlanydesired mannenas bymeans of screws, twoangle-shaped metal plate ,members 34 similarly secured ,to the inner faces of the side barsof thejback member .4 and two metal plates ,ld ,similarly secured ,to the inner faces of therearlegs 2. Thelbackmember l isshown pivoted at 5D to the rear ofandabove the seat m mberfi by. means of the plate .34, .pi fpt f to the. upper ends of vthe L plates .42. The rear legs .2 are shown pivoted at A l tothe rearof and below theseatmemberfi bymeans of the plates 114, pivoted to ,theiower ends of the: metal plates. .42. Eachpi-vot .44 is shown in Figs. ,4 and 8 as constituted, of a pintlel extending through the ,wood of -.a rea l ,2 and corresp ndin metal plates J4 .andJlZ, well as through .a washer 46 inte osed tweenlt es plate .1 and 2- E chrivo .0 ,i sim larl h w .mn titutedh a p tlee xt nd oe,thmi hthe wood of aside bar of the back member I and the corresponding metal plates 34 and 42, as well as through a washer 48 interposed between these plates 35 and 42.

The preferred mechanism will now be described for pivoting the front legs 3 at the front of the seat member 4. Metal plates 23 are secured, in any desired manner, to'the upper ends of the front legs 3, on their faces opposite to the rear legs 2. The upper ends of the plates 23 are shown provided with eyes through which extend pintles 24 for pivoting the front legs 3 below the seat member 4 between the arms of U shaped plates 22 secured to the under face of the seat member, near the corner junction of the side bars II and the front bar I3.

The front legs 3 may be actuated about their pivots 24 into and out of collapsed or closed position simultaneously with the actuation of the back member I by means of connecting links 6. A single connecting link 6 and associated mechanism' would theoretically be effective, thus to fold and extend the front legs 3 rearwardly and forwardly as a unit, but it is preferred to employ two connecting links 5, one at each side of the chair, connected in the same way to the respective front legs 3 and the corresponding side bars of the back member I. For brevity, one only of these connecting links 6 and its associated mechanism will be described.

' The rear end of the connecting link 6 is shown pivoted at 38, below the pivot 53, to an angularly disposed forwardly projecting portion of the back-member metal plate 34, with an interposed washer 36. The point 38 of pivotal connection of the connecting link 6 to the metal plate 34 is below the seating portion 5 of the seat member 4, as illustrated in Fig. 5, at a time when the chair is in extended or open position, but it becomes I raised to the'level of the seating portion 5, as

shown in Figs. 3 and 7, when the chair is collapsed. The front end of the connecting link 5 is shown pivoted to the under side of a link 8 at ID, with an interposed washer I2. The upper end of the link 8 is pivoted at 26 to one side bar II.

7', therefore, will result in the connecting link 6 I being actuated backward toward the right, thereby carrying with it the pivotal point It. The link 8 will therefore be caused to swing toward the right, about its upper pivot 26, forcing collapse of the front leg 3 through the link I4. Movement of the back member I in the opposim direction, from the collapsed position of Figs. 3 and 7, toward the extended position of Figs. 1, 4 and 5, will efiect reversal of these collapsing movements, thus effecting actuation of the front legs 3 toward the open or extended position of the chair.

The toggle links 8 and I4 are never in alinement, not even in the open or uncollapsed position of the chair. On the contrary, they are shown in Figs. 1 and 5 disposed at a substantial angle, larger than 90. The angle between the links 8 and I4 should preferably be such astheoretically to aline the pivots I5 I6 and 38 substantially when the chair occupies the uncollapsed or extended position shown in Figs. 1, 4

4 and 5. Accidental collapse of the back member I of the chair, as will hereinafter appear, is prevented by a novel latch mechanism. The back member I being thus securely held in place by the latch mechanism, it is enabled to exert a maximum thrusting force upon the front legs 3, through the substantially alined pivots I5, I8 and 36 of the links 6 and I4, for keeping the front legs also firmly in open position. The thrusting force is increased through the leverage afforded by providing the link 6 with a downward projection for pivoting it at IE) to a portion 3I of the toggle link 8 that extends below the common pivot I6 of the links 8 and I4 when the chair occupies the extended or uncollapsed position. It is not practicable, however, to take full advantage of the theoretical alinement of the pivots I5 and I6 of the link I4 with the pivotal connection 38 of the connecting link 6 to the back member I, since the pivots would then occupy a deadcenter position, which might make collapse of the chair dimcult. The pivot I6 is therefore shown disposed slightly above the straight line of the pivots I5 and 38 when the chair occupies --its fully unopened position. The connecting link 6 could, of course, be similarly pivoted to the toggle'link I4 instead of to the toggle link '8.

The same collapsing simultaneousmovement f the back member I and the-front legs 3 into the position of Figs. 3 and '7, and the same reverse movement of theback member-I andtho front legs into the fully unfolded position of Figs. 1, '4 and5, results also in corresponding movement of the rear legs 2. This is attained through an exceedingly simple construction comprising only a single additional link 32 for linking the connecting link 6 to the rear legs 2." The front end of this fourth link 32 is pivoted at 33 to an intermediately disposed point of the connecting link 6, a washer ZB-being interposed. The rear end of the link 32 is pivoted at 52 to the rear leg 2. The link 32 is shown L-shaped, in order that the rearwardly extending arm of the L may extend upward to position the pivot 52 above the pivot 44. The pivot 52 may be constituted of a pintle extending through the wood of the rear leg 2 and through the plate 'I4.- Locating the pivot 52 above the pivot 44 and the pivot 38 below the pivot 53 facilitates collapsing the black member i forward at the same time that the rear legs 2 are similarly collapsed forward and the frontlegs 3 are collapsed backward. When the chair occupies its fully open position, illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, on the other hand, the lower ends of the side bars of the back member I may be caused to engage flat against the upper ends of the rear legs 2 to hold the back member I solid against the rear legs 2 and, as the leverage before described will hold without wobbling, no additional bracing is needed. A very sturdy and rugged'chair is thus provided that nevertheless folds with extreme compactness to collapsed position. a a a 1 In order to avoid accidental collapse of the chair, however, provision is made'for positively looking it in fully open or extended position. To this end, the angularlydisposed forwardl prc jecting portions of the plates 34 that carry the pivots 38 are provided with undercut latching recesses H for receiving latches iiifshown L- shaped in cross section. The recesses I! are correspondingly shaped, to provide a horizontally disposed wall for engaging against the hori-, zontally disposed side of the L, a verticallydisposed wall for engaging the verticallyfldisposed side of the L,-and-an oppositely disposed wertica'l- 'ly disposed wall tor engaging the edge of the horizontally disposed side :of :the L. The latches M are respectively intermediately pivoted at 5 to the inner faces of the lower portions of the cross bar 56. Near the center of the cross bar '56, underncaththe seating portion 2a, the inner end of one of the latches K is provided with a projection :Iiii that is superposed over .a .corresponding projection 2% at the inner end of the other Tlatch fill. .A spring 960 .is icoiled around a screw =58 .that is screwed into the under face of the member I and that extends through :openings ithexproiieetions :l 9 .and 2!. The sprin 60 engages against the projection iii to force it downward against theprojection-Q i thus maintaining the projection 19 in engagement with the head of the screw 58. In this position of the latch members 40, their outer ends are forced upward by the spring "813 into the respective latch recesses 1'11. The latch members 40 are thus normally maintained in latching engagement with their respective latching recesses l 7 The latch members 40, when so engaged within tthe latch recesses ll, hold the plate members 34 and, therefore, the back member I, firmly and rigidly in uncollapsed or fully open position. The thrust force exerted through the connecting link 6 and the toggle link 1-4, as before explained, is similarly sufiicient to hold the front legs 3 firmly in open position. A further force is exerted from the metal plates .34 of the back member I, through the connecting link 6 and the fourth link 32, firmly to hold the rear legs 2 similarly in fully open position. In order to provide additional leverage for augmenting this force, the pivotal connection 30 is shown positioned in a portion of the connecting link 6 that is offset at 29, away from the rear leg 3. The offset may be provided without preventing collapse of the chair, as it may be positioned just behind the rear edge of the seat member 4 in the collapsed position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. The portion of the link 6 between the projection 21 and the offset portion is shown horizontal, in order that it may lie under the seating portion 5 when the chair is collapsed. The portion of the link 6 between the offset portion 29 and the pivot 38 is shown nearly horizontal, but sloping downward slightly toward the left, in order not to interfere with the collapsing movement of the back member I.

To collapse the chair, the fingers are straddled around a rod iii that is disposed under the seating portion 5, more or less alined with the side bars H, and behind a projection 12 of the rod 10. Upon the exertion of pressure forward upon the member 12, the front end 23 of the rod will be caused to slide forward in a groove 25 provided in the front bar it. The groove 25 cooperates with a guide 16, shown as a U-shaped member depending from the member I to guide the sliding movement of the rod Hi. The rear end of the rod it is pivoted to an arm of an angularly shaped metal member 62 that is intermediately pivoted at 38 upon a plate member 64, secured to the under side of the member I, with a washer 66 interposed. The forward movement of the rod 10 effects pivotal movement of the angularly shaped member 62 counter-clockwise from the position of Fig. 10 to that of Fig. 11, causing its other arm to engage against the under face of the projection 2i, thereby to force it upward, in opposition to the action of the spring 60; and, by engaging the projection l9. to force that upward also. The datohes All are thereupon caused to pivot about their ipivots 54 :from :the position :of Figs. 18 land .10 :to that of Figs. :9 and 11, thus actuating them soul; :of their latching recesses ii. The chair :may now he collapsed by pressing the back member I and the seat member 4 toward eachrother.

.Toopen the chair again, all that is necessary is to .move the .back smember ii and the seat member 4 in the opposite direction. Upon the chair reassuming its fully open position, the spring fill willrestore :the latches ii] in their respective recesses 11., relocking the chair .open.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, :a very effective chair is provided that may be rapidly folded into either collapsed or open position, and thatzis held'rigidly when open. rchairembodiesa very small number of parts rcomprising, 'in addition to the back member :I, theseatmember and the legs 2 and merely the plate :members as and is with the :aid of 'Whichto pivot the back i to the rear legs 3, the metal members it and .22 for pivoting the front legs 3 to the seat :member 4, the front-leg links EB and 14,111.18 connecting link 6 and the rear-leg link 32. The latching mechanism is also simple and very effective. Modifications will occur to :personssskilled in thcartpand .all such are considered to .fall "within the spirit and the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

claimed-is:

ii. .Azfolding chair comprising a seat member, a back .member pivoted at the :rear of the seat member in order that the back member may fold forward toward the seat member, rear legs pivoted at the rear of the seat member in order that the rear legs may fold as a unit forward toward the seat member, front legs pivoted at the front of the seat member in order that the front legs may fold as a unit rearward toward the seat member, toggle comprising two links pivoted to each other and respectively pivoted to the seat member and to one of the front legs, a third link pivoted to the back member and to one of the toggle links, and a fourth link pivoted to one of the rear legs and to an intermediately disposed point of the third link.

2. A folding chair comprising a seat member, a back member pivoted at the rear of the seat member in order that the back member may fold forward toward the seat member, rear legs pivoted at the rear of the seat member in order that the rear legs may fold as a unit forward toward the seat member, front legs pivoted at the front of the seat member in order that the front legs may fold as a unit rearward toward the seat member, a toggle comprisin two links pivoted to each other and respectively pivoted to the seat member and to one of the front legs, a third link pivoted to the back member and to the toggle link that is pivoted to the seat member, and a fourth link pivoted to one of the rear legs and to an intermediately disposed point of the third link, the pivots of the other toggle link being substantially aligned with the pivotal connection of the third link to the back member when the chair occupies its fully unfolded position.

3. A folding chair comprising a seat member, a back member pivoted at the rear of the seat member in order that the back member may fold forward toward the seat member, rear legs pivoted at the rear of the seat member in order that the rear legs may fold as a unit forward toward the seat member, front legs pivoted at the front of the seat member in order that the front legs may fold as a unit rearward toward the seat member, means comprising a link pivoted to the back member and to one of the front legs, a link pivoted to the rear legs and to an intermediate part of the first-named link, the back member being provided with a latching recess, a latch, and means for forcing the latch into the latching recess when the'chair occupies its fully unfolded position.

4. A folding chair comprising a seat member constituted of a frame having side bars, a front bar and a rear bar,.a back member to which are secured metal plates pivoted at the rear of the seat member, the plates being provided with latching recesses, latches intermediately pivoted on the rear bar, means acting on one side of the pivot of one of the latches to force the said one latch into its recess whenthe chair occupies its fully unfolded position, and means controlled by the forcing means and acting on one side of the pivot of the other latch for thereupon forcing the said other latch into its recess.

5. A folding chair comprising a wood seat member provided with forwardly disposed and rearwardly disposed metal plates, a wood back member provided with metal plates respectively pivoted to the rearwardly disposed metal plates in order that the back member may fold toward the seat member, rear wood legs provided with metal plates respectively pivoted to the rearwardly disposed metal plates in order that the rear legs may fold as a unit forward toward the 8 seat member, front wood legs provided with metal plates respectively :pivoted to the for wardly disposed metal plates in order that the front legs may fold as a unit rearwardly toward the seat member, the back member being provided with a further metal plate having a latch-fing recess, a link pivoted to the further metal plate and to one of the front legs, a link pivoted to the metal plate of one of the rear legs and to an intermediate part of the first-named link, a latch, and means for forcing the latch into the latching recess when the'chair occupies its fully unfolded position. 7

JOHN A. CHRISTENSEN,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Norway Dec. 16, 1897 

